Remote control stream dispensing toy

ABSTRACT

A remote controlled toy is adapted to accept and operate pre-pressurized conventional aerosol containers of differing shape and dimension by engaging the neck of the aerosol container, and by compressing together a muzzle and the neck of such a container to depress the neck and permit material to exit under pressure from the container outwardly through said neck.

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/839,552, filed May 5, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 60/468,418, filed May 7, 2003.

This invention relates to toys, and more particularly, to motorized toys such as cars, boat, planes, and action figures that are remotely controlled.

More particularly, the invention relates to a toy that enables a conventional aerosol can to be remotely operated.

Manually operated pre-pressurized aerosol cans are well known. A conventional aerosol can 10 is illustrated in FIG. 10 and includes hollow canister 80 charged with a pressurized gas 76 and liquid or other contents 77. Dip tube 78 extends to the bottom of canister 80. Nozzle 71 is slidably removably mounted on hollow neck 73 of valve assembly 72. Valve assembly 72 is mounted in and operatively associated with fixed seal assembly 75. Spring 81 is mounted inside seal assembly 75 and biases valve assembly 72 in a normal closed position with the bottom of valve assembly 72 pressing against the bottom surface 82 of the top of canister 80. When valve assembly 72 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 10, port 74 is housed inside the top of seal assembly 75 and liquid 77 is prevented from flowing into port 74 and up and out through neck 73 and nozzle 71. Depressing nozzle 71 downwardly in the direction of arrow T downwardly displaces valve assembly 72 in the direction of arrow T and moves port 74 at least partially into the larger hollow conical portion of seal assembly 75 such that liquid 77 can flow under pressure through dip tube 78, into seal assembly 75, into valve assembly 72 (through port 74), and out through nozzle 71.

Pre-pressurized aerosol cans or other pre-pressurized cartridges that dispense polymer or other material in a stream are known. When the nozzle of such cans is depressed, the pressurized gas in the aerosol can causes a stream of polymer material to shoot out from the can through an opening in the neck 73 of the valve assembly 72 of the nozzle. After the polymer material is dispensed it can harden. For example, pre-pressurized canisters of polyurethane foam can be purchased at HOME DEPOT™ or other stores that sell construction material. After the polyurethane foam is dispensed from the pre-pressurized cannister, the foam hardens.

Another polymer or polymer-like material that is dispensed from a pre-pressurized canister is SILLY STRING™. SILLY STRING was first introduced to the gag-gift market over thirty-five years ago, in 1969 by Julius Samann, Ltd. SILLY STRING is non-toxic, non-flammable, and free of chlorofluorocarbons. Apparently only the manufacturer knows the exact ingredients of SILLY STRING.

One use of SILLY STRING comprises mounting a pressurized canister on a SPIDER MAN WEB BLASTER™ glove apparatus worn on the hand. The canister is, as is common with aerosol cans, manually actuated. Manual activation of the canister is accomplished by manually depressing a lever incorporated in the SPIDER MAN™ and SILLY STRING is dispensed from the canister when the user presses a lever that is positioned in the palm of the user. As is noted at the www.shopireland.ie/toys/detail web site, one disadvantage of the SPIDER MAN glove apparatus is that conventional aerosol cans of the type shown in FIG. 10 can not be utilized. In addition, glove apparatus, while a popular toy, requires that the SPIDER MAN glove apparatus be worn on the hand to operate an aerosol can, requires manual operation of an aerosol can, and limits the discharge direction to directions in which the user is pointing his arm and hand.

Accordingly, it would desirable to provide a improved toy that would not require, in conventional fashion, manual operation of an aerosol can, that could utilize conventional aerosol cans, that could operate an aerosol can at locations remote from the user, and that would not correlate the direction of discharge with the position of the user's hands and arms.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved toy.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved toy that can utilize and discharge a conventional aerosol can at selected locations remote from a user.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy for operating a conventional pre-pressurized aerosol can without requiring manual operation of the can valve.

These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a toy vehicle and action figure including a self-contained pre-pressurized aerosol cartridge for dispensing a stream of material;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an alternate embodiment of a toy vehicle and action figure including a self-contained pre-pressurized aerosol cartridge for dispensing a stream of material;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an alternate embodiment of the invention comprising an action figure including a self-contained pre-pressurized aerosol cartridge for dispensing a stream of material;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a hand of the action figure of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 and a stream of material dispensed therefrom;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a toy vehicle including a self-contained pre-pressurized aerosol cartridge for dispensing a stream of material;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an alternate embodiment of a toy vehicle constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view illustrating further construction details of the vehicle of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view illustrating a remote control unit for the vehicle of FIG. 5:

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the mechanism used to actuate the stream dispensing cartridge;

FIG. 9 is a side view illustrating an alternate construction of the vehicle of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is a side partial section view illustrating a conventional aerosol container; and,

FIG. 11 is a side partial section view illustrating an alternate embodiment of the invention.

Briefly, in accordance with the invention, I provide a stream dispensing remote control motorized toy vehicle. The vehicle includes a body (14); motor-driven wheels (13) mounted on the body (14); and, a self-contained pressurized aerosol cartridge (32) mounted within the body (14). The aerosol cartridge contains a propellant and containing a foam stream material that solidifies after exiting said cartridge; includes an outlet (36) for the stream material to exit the cartridge; and, includes a release member (33) operable to release the stream material. The vehicle also includes a muzzle (62); a nozzle (34) interconnecting the muzzle (62); and the outlet (36) such that stream of material exiting the pressurized aerosol cartridge through the outlet (36) passes through the nozzle (34) and the muzzle (62). The vehicle also includes a remote transmitter generating signals for controlling selectively the motor-driven wheels (13) and dispensing of the stream material from the pressurized cartridge; a receiver mounted on the toy which receives the signals; a motor-driven release mechanism (44) mounted in the body (14) for controlling the release of the stream material from the pressurized cartridge. The release mechanism and the receiver are in electrical communication whereby the release mechanism operates in accordance with the signals. The release mechanism pivots against the cartridge (32) to release stream material from the cartridge through the outlet (36), nozzle (34), and muzzle (62). The vehicle also includes a motor (40) mounted within the body (14) to pivot the release mechanism (44) against the cartridge (32) to release stream material from the cartridge through the outlet (36), nozzle (34), and muzzle (62). The vehicle also includes an action figure riding in the toy vehicle.

In another embodiment of the invention, I provide an improved stream material dispensing motorized toy vehicle. The vehicle comprises a body (14); motor-driven wheels (13) mounted on the body (14); and, a self-contained pressurized aerosol cartridge (32) of generally conventional construction and mounted within the body (14). The cartridge contains a propellant and containing a foam stream material that solidifies after exiting the cartridge; includes a valve assembly (72) with a hollow neck (73) for the stream material to exit the cartridge; and, includes a release member (33) operable to release the stream material. The vehicle also comprises a nozzle (63) contacting the neck (73) and including an opening (62A) such that stream of material exiting the pressurized aerosol cartridge through said neck (73) passes through said opening (62A); a remote transmitter generating signals for controlling selectively the motor-driven wheels (13) and dispensing of the stream material from the pressurized cartridge; a receiver mounted on the toy vehicle which receives said signals; a motor-driven release mechanism (44) mounted in the body (14) for controlling the release of the stream material from the pressurized cartridge, the release mechanism and the receiver being in electrical communication whereby the release mechanism operates in accordance with said signals, said release mechanism pivotable against the cartridge (32) to release stream material from the cartridge through said neck (73) and nozzle (63); and, a motor (40) mounted within the body (14) to pivot the release mechanism (44) against the nozzle (63) to press said nozzle (63) against said neck (73) and release stream material from said cartridge through said neck (73) and nozzle (63).

In a further embodiment of the invention, I provide and improved stream material dispensing motorized toy vehicle. The vehicle comprises a body (14); motor-driven wheels (13) mounted on the body (14); and, a self-contained pressurized aerosol cartridge (32) mounted within the body (14). The cartridge contains a propellant and containing a foam stream material that solidifies after exiting said cartridge; includes a hollow neck (73A) for the stream material to exit the cartridge, and depressible to release the stream material. The toy vehicle also comprises a nozzle (63); a muzzle (62) interconnecting the nozzle (63) and the neck (73A) such that the stream of material exiting the pressurized aerosol cartridge through the neck (73A) passes through the muzzle (62) and nozzle (63); a remote transmitter generating signals for controlling selectively the motor-driven wheels (13) and dispensing of the stream material from the pressurized cartridge; a receiver mounted on the toy which receives said signals; a motor-driven release mechanism (44) mounted in the body (14) for controlling the release of the stream material from the pressurized cartridge, the release mechanism and the receiver being in electrical communication whereby the release mechanism operates in accordance with said signals, said release mechanism pivotable to compress together the muzzle (62) and neck (73A) to depress the neck (73A) to release stream material from the cartridge through the neck (73A),muzzle (62), and nozzle (63); and, a motor (40) mounted within the body (14) to pivot the release mechanism (44) to compress together the muzzle (62) and neck (73A) to release stream material from the cartridge through the neck (73A), muzzle (62), and nozzle (73). The toy vehicle can also include a cartridge support (46A) having a foot (91). The cartridge can include a bottom (90); seat in support (46A) intermediate muzzle (62) and foot (91) with bottom (90) adjacent foot (91) and neck (73A) adjacent muzzle (62). The distance of muzzle (62) from foot (91) can be adjustable.

Turning now the drawings, which depict the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustration thereof, and not by way of limitation of the invention, and in which like characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views, the toy vehicle 10 of FIG. 1 includes a replica 12 of an action figure such as SPIDERMAN™, SUPERMAN™, or other action figure. Although not visible in FIG. 1 (or FIGS. 2, 3), a pre-pressurized self-contained aerosal cartridge 32 is incorporated in action figure 12 along with apparatus that, in the same manner described below with respect to FIGS. 7 to 9 and 11, permits the cartridge(s) 32 to be remotely operated to dispense stream material from cartridge(s) 32 through openings 15 in the wrists 16 of action figure 12. In the event action figure 12 is the comic book character SPIDERMAN, stream 11 of material is intended to imitate the “web” material that SPIDERMAN produces.

As used herein, the term “vehicle” means all forms of model cars, trucks, airplanes, boats, and the like. The term action figure means all forms of model figures, including human, animal, robot and the like, and includes transformable figures. Although the combination of an action figure and vehicle is a preferred embodiment of the invention, this combination is not necessary to practice the invention. A vehicle may utilized without an action figure, and visa versa. The vehicles in FIGS. 5 and 6 do not include an action figure. The action figure of FIG. 3 does not include a vehicle.

In FIG. 7, motive power for powering and turning vehicle 10 and for actuating cartridge 32 is provided by one or more motors 40, 50. A motor 50 can be connected to an axle (not visible) on which one or more wheels 13, 14 is mounted, can be connected directly to the wheel, etc. One or more batteries 28 or another power source provide power for motor(s) 50, as well as for receiver 26 and servo motor 40. Receiver 26 receives signals 58 from a transmitter 51 via an antenna 24. Transmitter 51 includes controls for 52 adjusting the speed of vehicle 10, for 53 turning the vehicle, and 55 for actuating cartridge 32. Control 52 is moved in the direction of arrows F to adjust vehicle speed. Control 53 is moved in the direction of arrows G to turn wheels 13 and, consequently, to turn the vehicle. Apparatus for turning wheels 13 is well known and is, although not visible in FIG. 7, incorporated in vehicle 10. Button 55 is depressed in the direction of arrow H to actuate cartridge 32 to dispense a stream 11 of material. When button 55 is released, cartridge 32 is deactivated so that a stream 11 of material is not produced. Technology for operating remote controlled vehicles is well known in the art. Any desired form and shape and dimension of remote control can be utilized, including, but not limited to, infrared, ultrasonic, or hard wire control units.

Stream dispensing mechanism 30 is mounted on body 14 of vehicle 10 and is remotely operated with transmitter 51. Mechanism 30 includes nozzle 34. Nozzle 34 interconnects outlet 36 and muzzle 62 of gun 60. The shape and dimension and functioning of cartridge 32 and remote control device 51 can be varied as desired. Signals transmitted from transmitter 51 can comprise infrared or ultrasonic signals, can be via hard wire, etc. Cartridge 32 (and 32A) preferably comprises a conventional aerosol can of the type illustrated in FIG. 10, but with nozzle 71 removed. Nozzle 71 ordinarily can be slid off neck 73 to prepare cartridge 32 for use in vehicle 10. As indicated in FIGS. 7 and 9, any desired construction can be utilized in combination with neck 73 to depress neck 73 to release material from cartridge 32 through neck 73. Or a special canister valve assembly different from that of FIG. 10 can, if desired, be designed and constructed and utilized to store and release under pressure stream material.

The embodiments of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5, 7 each include an action figure(s) 12 or gun 60 that is stored, completely or partially, in a vehicle 10. The action figure 12 and gun 60 move between a stored and deployed position. In FIGS. 1 and 5 the action figure 12 or gun 60 are deployed. In FIG. 7 the gun 60 is in the stored position in cavity 17 in the body 14 of vehicle 10.

In FIG. 7, gun 60 includes a storage tray 46 that is mounted on body 14 by pin 20. Tray 46 pivots about pin 20. Cartridge 32 nests in tray 46. In FIG. 7, doors 18 (not visible in FIG. 7) are closed and retain gun 60 in the stored position. When doors 18 are manually or mechanically opened to the position shown in FIG. 5, spring 37 presses against tray 46 and causes tray 46 to pivot about pin 20 such that the back of tray 46 moves downwardly in the direction of arrow U (FIG. 7) and the forward portion of gun 60 moves upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 5.

Depressing button 55 causes transmitter 51 to send a signal 58 to antenna 24 and receiver 26. When receiver 26 receives the signal, receiver 26 generates signals to servo motor 40 that cause motor 40 to rotate arm 70 about pivot point 42 such that one end of arm 70 moves downwardly in the direction of arrow A and the other end of arm 70 moves upwardly in the direction or arrow B. The end of arm 70 moving upwardly in the direction of arrow B is pivotally attached by pin 31 to end 71 of L-shaped arm 73 such that end 71 pivots about pin 45 and also moves upwardly in the direction of arrow B. When end 71 moves upwardly in the direction of arrow B, forked arm 44 moves in the direction of arrow C (FIG. 8) and presses against and depresses end 33 of cartridge 32. Depressing end 33 with arm 44 causes a stream 11 of material to flow out from cartridge 32 through opening 57. When button 55 (FIG. 7A) is released, the foregoing process is reversed and arm 44 releases end 33 and returns to the normal operative position illustrated in FIG. 7. When end 33 is released, the flow of stream 11 out of cartridge 32 ceases. Outlet 36 is omitted from FIG. 8 for the sake of clarity. Outlet 36 and nozzle 34 and muzzle 62 each include a central aperture through which stream 11 travels when end 33 is depressed.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, when end 71 moves upwardly in the direction of arrow B, the distal end of forked arm 44 presses against lip 38 of member 39 (and does not press against end 33). When arm 44 presses against lip 38, arm 39—and therefore muzzle 62 and nozzle 34—is pressed in the direction of arrow D, depressing outlet 36 and end 33 to cause stream 11 to flow through outlet 36, nozzle 34, and muzzle 62.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, motors 40 and 50, receiver 26, antenna 24, and battery 28 are omitted for the sake of clarity. Vehicle 10 in FIG. 9 includes these components and is essentially equivalent to the vehicle 10 in FIG. 7, except that pre-pressurized self-contained cartridge 32A has a conventional construction generally like the construction illustrated in FIG. 10, and valve neck 73A, and nozzle 63 replace outlet 36, nozzle 34, and muzzle 62. When servo motor 40 is activated and displaces arm 70 in the manner described above, forked arm 44 moves in the direction of arrow J and depresses circular outer surface 62 of nozzle 63 in the direction of arrow J. When nozzle 63 is depressed in the direction of arrow J, nozzle 63 contacts and depresses the distal end of valve neck 73A (and therefore depresses valve neck 73A and the valve assembly in container 32A that is comparable to valve assembly 72 in FIG. 10) in the direction of arrow J, allowing material inside container 32A to escape under pressure through the valve assembly of container 32A in the same manner that material in container 80 escapes through valve assembly 72 when neck 73A is depressed in the direction of arrow T. Aperture 62A extending through nozzle 63 is shaped and dimensioned both to permit material flowing out through neck 73A to pass through aperture 62A and to enable a portion of nozzle 63 to contact, press against, and displace the outer circular edge or lip of neck 73A, which circular edge or lip is comparable to edge 83 in FIG. 10 and circumscribes the opening that extends through neck 73A, which opening extending through neck 73A is comparable to opening or channel 82 in FIG. 10 and comprises the opening through which material exits container 32A under pressure.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention which is comparable to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 except that the nozzle 63 in FIG. 9 is replaced by the nozzle 63B and muzzle assembly described below. In FIG. 11, the hollow neck 73A of conventional pre-pressurized self-contained aerosol cartridge 32A (which cartridge has the nozzle 71 (FIG. 10) removed) is engaged by a muzzle assembly including a first member 62B and including a collar 85. Aperture 89 of collar 85 is shaped to engage neck 73A such that when collar 85 and neck 73A are compressed against each other, neck 73A is depressed in the direction of arrow P to release under pressure from cartridge 32A through neck 73A foam material or other material in cartridge 32A. Cartridge 32A includes bottom 90.

Nozzle 63B includes a cylindrical base or flange 63D that slidably seats in cylindrical opening 62C formed in first member 62B of the muzzle assembly. Nozzle 63B also includes internally threaded aperture 86 that receives externally threaded portion 88 of collar 85. Rotating nozzle 63B in the direction of arrow Y, or in the opposing direction, rotates flange 63D in opening 62C, engages the threads on portion 88 of collar 85, and moves collar 85 in the directions indicated by arrows X in FIG. 11. Moving collar 85 in the directions indicated by arrows X increases or decreases the distance of collar 85 from foot 91 of cartridge support 46A (FIG. 9). This adjustability of collar 85 facilitates using cartridges 32A of differing lengths in the remote controlled toy 10 of the invention.

In FIG. 9, nozzle 63 and neck 73A are compressed together to depress neck 73A to permit material to exit from cartridge 32A outwardly through neck 73A. This compression is accomplished, as earlier noted, by displacing arm 44 against nozzle 63 to depress nozzle 63 against neck 73A. When arm 44 depresses nozzle 63, foot 91 is contacting and preventing bottom 90 from moving in a direction away from nozzle 63. In the alternative, nozzle 63 can be maintained in fixed position on toy 10 while an arm 44 or other member generates a force against bottom 90 in the direction indicated by arrow Z to compress together neck 73A and nozzle 63 to depress neck 73A and allow material to exit cartridge 32A through neck 73A.

Having described the presently preferred embodiments and best mode of the invention in such terms as to enable those of skill in the art to understand and practice the invention, 

1. A stream material dispensing motorized toy vehicle comprising: a body (14), motor-driven wheels (13) mounted on the body (14), a self-contained pressurized aerosol cartridge (32) mounted within the body (14), (a) containing a propellant and containing a foam stream material that solidifies after exiting said cartridge, (b) including an outlet (36) for the stream material to exit the cartridge, and (c) including a release member (33) operable to release the stream material, a muzzle (62), a nozzle (34) interconnecting the muzzle (62) and the outlet (36) such that stream of material exiting the pressurized aerosol cartridge through the outlet (36) passes through the nozzle (34) and the muzzle (62), a remote transmitter generating signals for controlling selectively the motor-driven wheels (13) and dispensing of the stream material from the pressurized cartridge, a receiver mounted on the toy which receives said signals, a motor-driven release mechanism (44) mounted in the body (14) for controlling the release of the stream material from the pressurized cartridge, the release mechanism and the receiver being in electrical communication whereby the release mechanism operates in accordance with said signals, said release mechanism pivotable against the cartridge (32) to release stream material from the cartridge through the outlet (36), nozzle (34), and muzzle (62), a motor (40) mounted within the body (14) to pivot the release mechanism (44) against the cartridge (32) to release stream material from the cartridge through the outlet (36), nozzle (34), and muzzle (62), and an action figure riding in the toy vehicle.
 2. A stream material dispensing motorized toy vehicle comprising: a body (14), motor-driven wheels (13) mounted on the body (14), a self-contained pressurized aerosol cartridge (32) of generally conventional construction and mounted within the body (14), (a) containing a propellant and containing a foam stream material that solidifies after exiting said cartridge, (b) including a valve assembly (72) with a hollow neck (73) for the stream material to exit the cartridge, and (c) including a release member (33) operable to release the stream material, a nozzle (63) contacting said neck (73) and including an opening (62A) such that stream of material exiting the pressurized aerosol cartridge through said neck (73) passes through said opening (62A), a remote transmitter generating signals for controlling selectively the motor-driven wheels (13) and dispensing of the stream material from the pressurized cartridge, a receiver mounted on the toy which receives said signals, a motor-driven release mechanism (44) mounted in the body (14) for controlling the release of the stream material from the pressurized cartridge, the release mechanism and the receiver being in electrical communication whereby the release mechanism operates in accordance with said signals, said release mechanism pivotable against the cartridge (32) to release stream material from the cartridge through said neck (73) and nozzle (63), a motor (40) mounted within the body (14) to pivot the release mechanism (44) against the nozzle (63) to press said nozzle (63) against said neck (73) and release stream material from said cartridge through said neck (73) and nozzle (63).
 3. A stream material dispensing motorized toy vehicle comprising: a body (14), motor-driven wheels (13) mounted on the body (14), a self-contained pressurized aerosol cartridge (32) mounted within the body (14), (a) containing a propellant and containing a foam stream material that solidifies after exiting said cartridge, (b) including a hollow neck (73A) for the stream material to exit the cartridge, and depressible to release the stream material, a nozzle (63), a muzzle (62) interconnecting the nozzle (63) and the neck (73A) such that stream of material exiting the pressurized aerosol cartridge through the neck (73A) passes through the muzzle (62) and nozzle (63), a remote transmitter generating signals for controlling selectively the motor-driven wheels (13) and dispensing of the stream material from the pressurized cartridge, a receiver mounted on the toy vehicle which receives said signals, a motor-driven release mechanism (44) mounted in the body (14) for controlling the release of the stream material from the pressurized cartridge, the release mechanism and the receiver being in electrical communication whereby the release mechanism operates in accordance with said signals, said release mechanism pivotable to compress together the muzzle (62) and neck (73A) to depress the neck (73A) to release stream material from the cartridge through the neck (73A),muzzle (62), and nozzle (63), a motor (40) mounted within the body (14) to pivot the release mechanism (44) to compress together the muzzle (62) and neck (73A) to release stream material from the cartridge through the neck (73A), muzzle (62), and nozzle (73).
 4. The toy vehicle of claim 3 (a) including a cartridge support (46A) having a foot (91); (b) wherein the cartridge (i) includes a bottom (90), (ii) seats in support (46A) intermediate muzzle (62) and foot (91) with bottom (90) adjacent foot (91) and neck (73A) adjacent muzzle (62); and, (c) the distance of muzzle (62) from foot (91) is adjustable. 